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Using dual monitors makes it convenient for the small business owner to work within multiple programs or windows at the same time. Unfortunately, Windows 7 doesn't handle dual-monitor wallpaper very well, with no default option to fit a single wallpaper across two screens. With a bit of simple customization, you can manually set the wallpaper to display across two monitors.

Determine the Resolution

Before setting up your wallpaper, you need to know the resolution of your dual-screens. Right-click an open space on your desktop and select "Screen Resolution." Write down the resolution of display 1, then click display 2 and write that resolution down. Since you're stretching one wallpaper over both monitors, add the horizontal resolutions together, but not the vertical resolution. The horizontal resolution is the larger number listed first. For example, if one monitor's resolution is 1360-by-768 and the other screen's resolution is 1280-by-768, add 1360 and 1280 for a final resolution of 2640-by-768.

Find Wallpaper

Now that you have the total resolutions of your monitors as one, you can find wallpaper made specifically for that resolution. Open a Web browser and search your favorite search engine for "2640 x 768 wallpaper," replacing the numbers with your own resolution. The advantage to this over resizing existing wallpaper is that the wallpaper you'll find online was specifically created for your resolution, so you don't need to resize the wallpaper to make it fit. Once found, save your desired wallpaper to an easily remembered place on your computer.

Resize Existing Wallpaper

If you already have an image you want to use as your dual-monitor wallpaper, you can alter its resolution instead of trying to find and download the right size online. Click the Windows Start orb and type "Paint" into the search bar, pressing "Enter" when Paint displays. Click the blue drop-down menu in Paint's upper-left corner and select "Open," then find and open your wallpaper. Click "Resize" under the Image section of the toolbar. Switch to "Pixels" at the top and remove the check next to "Maintain aspect ratio." Type the sum of the two resolutions you added into the "Horizontal" and "Vertical" boxes, then click "OK." Save the image and close Paint.

Set the Wallpaper

Right-click an open area on your desktop and select "Personalize." Click "Desktop Background" near the bottom of the window. Select "Browse" and find the folder containing your wallpaper. Click the wallpaper to activate it, then choose "Tile" under "Picture position." All of the other Picture Position options display the wallpaper twice, once on each monitor. If you downloaded or set the correct resolution, the image should fit perfectly across both screens. Click "Save changes" when you're finished.

About the Author

Matt Koble has been writing professionally since 2008. He has been published on websites such as DoItYourself. Koble mostly writes about technology, electronics and computer topics.